Young judoka from across Western Australia came together from 30 October to 1 November for the 2026 WA Futures Camp, enjoying three days of intensive training, technical development and activities at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp in Hillarys.
Proudly supported by Healthway through the Fuel to Go & Play initiative, this year's camp welcomed two outstanding guest coaches: Australian Olympian Nathan Katz and Japanese Junior World Champion Aki Kuroda.
With a program combining technical instruction, randori, physical conditioning and opportunities to build friendships with fellow judoka, the camp provided young athletes with a valuable opportunity to develop their skills and learn from two highly accomplished international competitors.
Day 1 – Meeting the Coaches and Building Foundations
The camp commenced on Friday afternoon, with participants arriving at Ern Halliday Recreation Camp before heading straight onto the tatami for their opening training session.
Athletes were introduced to Nathan Katz, a two-time Olympian who represented Australia at the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and Aki Kuroda, Japan's 2022 Junior World Champion in the women's -78kg division.
The opening session introduced participants to a range of ne-waza (groundwork) and tachi-waza (standing) drills, allowing athletes to familiarise themselves with the coaches' approaches and begin developing the technical foundations that would be explored throughout the weekend.
The session concluded with randori, providing an opportunity for participants to put their skills into practice and begin training alongside judoka from other clubs.
Following training, athletes enjoyed a hearty dinner and some well-earned downtime before settling in for the evening ahead of a busy Saturday.
Day 2 – Aki Kuroda Masterclass, Technical Development and Halloween Fun
Saturday's program featured one of the highlights of the weekend, with Aki Kuroda delivering a special technical masterclass focusing on two of her signature techniques: her ne-waza turnover and uchi-mata.
The morning session was also opened to additional participants, including veteran judoka attending Judo WA's 2026 Veterans Weekend, bringing together athletes of different ages and experience levels for a shared learning opportunity.
Drawing on her experience competing at the highest levels of international junior judo, Aki broke down the technical elements of her turnover and uchi-mata, giving participants an opportunity to explore the movements, positioning and principles behind her techniques.
For the younger participants, the session provided a particularly valuable opportunity to learn directly from an athlete who has successfully applied these techniques at world championship level.
The afternoon session built on the morning's instruction, with athletes revisiting Aki's turnover and continuing to practise the movements introduced earlier in the day.
Nathan then guided participants through a series of footwork and coordination exercises, focusing on movement, balance and agility. These activities complemented the technical instruction delivered throughout the camp, reinforcing the importance of movement and body control in effective judo.
The session concluded with rounds of randori, allowing athletes to apply their learning in a more dynamic training environment.
After another demanding day on the tatami, participants enjoyed a relaxed evening together, complete with popcorn, a movie and a few sweet treats to celebrate Halloween.
Day 3 – Early Morning Conditioning and Final Training
There was no sleeping in on Sunday, with participants up bright and early for a challenging outdoor training session commencing at 6:30am.
The early morning session provided a final physical challenge for the group, testing their fitness and determination after two full days of judo training.
Following breakfast, athletes returned to the tatami for the final session of the camp.
The session provided an opportunity to consolidate the techniques and drills introduced by Nathan and Aki throughout the weekend, revisiting key aspects of their instruction and reinforcing the skills developed over the previous two days.
With the final training session complete, participants said their goodbyes and brought another successful WA Futures Camp to a close.
Developing the Next Generation of WA Judoka
The WA Futures Camp continues to provide an important development opportunity for young judoka, offering an environment that combines high-quality technical coaching with physical development, social interaction and the enjoyment of judo.
Access to coaches of Nathan and Aki's calibre gives emerging athletes an opportunity to experience different approaches to training, broaden their technical knowledge and gain insight into the skills required to compete at higher levels.
Equally important are the connections formed away from the tatami, with participants spending three days training, eating and enjoying activities together, building friendships that extend beyond their individual clubs.
Judo WA extends its sincere thanks to Nathan Katz and Aki Kuroda for sharing their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm with our young athletes throughout the camp.
We also thank all participants for their commitment and positive attitudes across the weekend, along with the dedicated staff and volunteers whose efforts made the camp possible.
Finally, Judo WA acknowledges the continued support of Healthway and Fuel to Go & Play, whose partnership helps provide development opportunities for young judoka across Western Australia.
We look forward to welcoming our young athletes back for another WA Futures Camp in 2027!
📸 View the 2026 WA Futures Camp Photo Gallery:
